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º£½ÇÉçÇø — LOS ANGELES (Jan. 31, 2025) -- 

Events

Linda Joy Pollin Women’s Heart Health Day
Join experts from the  on Feb. 7, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. PST. Presentations will cover health equity, exercise and weight management, hormone replacement therapy, statins and supplements, and integrative therapy for cardiovascular disease prevention.

Patient Stories

Altadena Man Faces Rebuilding After Fire, Starting With His Heart
David M. Booher and husband Steve, along with their three greyhounds, evacuated their home on Jan. 7. The next day, they learned the house was gone. But Booher still  on Jan. 9 because he said that rebuilding his home started with his heart.  

Heart Transplant No. 2 Gives Destany Another Chance
When life gets bleak for Destany Epps-Manuel, 36, she knows the only way to go is forward. That’s what she’s been doing since being diagnosed at 22 with dilated cardiomyopathy, a rare disease that causes the heart muscle to weaken and stop pumping blood. The Texas native, who traveled to Cedars-Sinai for her second heart transplant, is eager to get back to seeing her son play football and volunteering with her ministry.

A Surprise Heart Attack and New Outlook
Former college football player Josh Stein, 47, was working out in early 2024 when he started to feel discomfort in his chest. At a neighboring emergency department, he learned he was having a heart attack. He passed out and remembers waking up and being told he needed a new heart, which he received a couple of days later. Now he’s eager to spread the word about the importance of a heart-healthy diet and regular checkups with physicians.

Topics

Cardiovascular Surgery 
Cedars-Sinai experts are currently leading several National Institutes of Health-funded trials into surgical approaches. They can explain why the number of people undergoing heart surgery in the U.S. is increasing, how patients can decide which approach is best, and how artificial intelligence can help patients understand their conditions and options.  

Congenital Heart Disease
Every year, about 1 in 120 U.S. babies are born with a heart defect. At Cedars-Sinai, experts can identify congenital heart disease in the womb and care for mother and baby through pregnancy, birth, childhood and adulthood.

Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., but it affects some groups of people more than others. Cedars-Sinai experts can discuss how risk can vary based on race, ethnicity and socioeconomic background.

Weight Loss Drugs and Heart Health: Studies report that GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic can have cardiovascular benefits. Cardiologists at Cedars-Sinai use a combination of approaches, including medication, to help patients lower their cardiovascular risk.

To schedule an interview with a Smidt Heart Institute expert, contact Stephanie Cajigal at 347-806-2938 or [email protected].